Charleston Currents – coronavirus

Post Tagged with: "coronavirus"

S.C. Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, D-North Charleston, speaks at a recent protest rally. Photo by Gavin Shelton.

NEWS BRIEFS: Lawmakers urged to address hate crimes, gun safety bills

Staff reports | Two state lawmakers said last week that it’s time to move forward promptly with bills to make hate crimes illegal and promote gun safety in South Carolina. S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, told sister publication Statehouse Report that a hate crimes bill would go a long way toward race relations in the state. Earlier this year, the bill got important bipartisan support from then-House Judiciary Chair Peter McCoy, “but of course, then COVID-19 hit.”

by Charleston Currents · 06/08/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

NEW for 6/1: On protests, Bobby Kennedy, free parking

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Peaceful protest followed by looting, clean-up and curfew
COMMENTARY, Brack: Return home and say a prayer for the country
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SCIWAY
NEWS BRIEFS: Free parking downtown after 6 p.m.
FEEDBACK: Yep, put on the mask
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pipes and stuff
CALENDAR: Charleston Museum reopens
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Granby

by Charleston Currents · 06/01/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

BRACK: Just wear the dang mask

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The woman and her two children walked into the house, quickly closing the door because it was a blustery winter day. They arrived to celebrate a daughter’s birthday.

The boy joined the other kids. The little girl, much younger, stuck near her mother. She was wearing a coat but had bare feet. Mucus bubbled around her nose. She was whiny. And obviously sick.

by Andy Brack · 05/25/2020 · 2 comments · Andy Brack, Views

NEW for 5/25: Life lessons for new grads; Masks and pink baby unicorns

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: A few life lessons for new graduates
COMMENTARY, Brack: Just wear the dang mask
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
NEWS BRIEFS: State looks at stockpiling medical equipment again
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Another old image of an old building
CALENDAR: Catch some virtual art events at home
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Influenza pandemic of 1918

by Andy Brack · 05/25/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

NEW for 5/18: Reigniting economy; Some good news; More

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: One Region releases business, restaurant guidelines for reopening economy
COMMENTARY, Brack: Crisis yields some good news for planet, neighbors
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston reps call for end to citizen arrests
FEEDBACK: Lines will be long on primary election day
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old picture of old place
CALENDAR: More county parks are open
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: William Washington

by Charleston Currents · 05/18/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

BRACK: State needs more absentee voting

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | In these pandemic times, the state doesn’t want large groups of people to congregate. Yet it hasn’t expanded rules to allow people who want to shelter in place to vote by absentee ballot on June 9.

This makes absolutely no sense for anyone who has stood in long lines on election day, particularly now that there are more barriers to voting with identification requirements and new electronic machines still unfamiliar to many voters. More absentee voting would limit human contact — and potentially thwart the spread of coronavirus.

by Andy Brack · 05/11/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

NEW for 5/11: Parks reopening; More absentee voting; #MuseumWeek

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: County parks resume operations, more openings ahead
COMMENTARY, Brack: State needs to promote more absentee voting
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Titan Termite & Pest Control
NEWS BRIEFS: State’s public health agency overwhelmed, underfunded
FEEDBACK: On getting back to work and school
MYSTERY PHOTO: Maybe our most difficult mystery yet
CALENDAR: Charleston #MuseumWeek: 7 days, 7 themes, 7 hashtags
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Havilah Babcock

by Charleston Currents · 05/11/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

BRACK: Legislators wasted two months of 2020 session

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | With Americans burning up Zoom to conduct business meetings online and keep up with what’s happening in this year of an invisible enemy, you’ve got to wonder why state lawmakers mostly wasted the 2020 legislative session.

By cutting class for two months due to the novel coronavirus, they missed big opportunities to deal with Santee Cooper’s future, state pension shortfalls, teacher pay, educational improvement, the problems of vaping, gun loopholes, opioids and tax reform. The list drags on.

by Andy Brack · 05/04/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

New for 4/27: On finances, doubletalk, concert, Provence

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Maintain good financial habits during pandemic
COMMENTARY, Brack: Politicians need to stop doubletalk, listen to scientists
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts
PHOTO ESSAY, Byko: The streets of Provence
NEWS BRIEFS: May 8 telethon to raise money for homeless hurt in pandemic
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pretty little church
CALENDAR: Enjoy art from around the world
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Joel Poinsett

by Charleston Currents · 04/27/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

Chalked sign near the intersection of St. Andrew's Boulevard and Folly Road.

FOCUS: Tecklenburg outlines three stages of reopening Charleston

By John Tecklenburg, mayor | When the City of Charleston issued the stay-at-home order a few weeks ago, the primary goal was to “flatten the curve” so as to not overwhelm our hospital capacity and to greatly reduce the spread of contagion. I have been encouraged by the most recent numbers, which is a testament to our citizens staying smart, staying distanced and listening to medical experts. The plan to “flatten the curve” has and is continuing to work and we must be vigilant to keep Charleston from becoming a “hotspot”.

As we continue to flatten the curve, it is time to ready our strategic reopening to avoid any resurgence or spikes of the virus. I view this challenge in three ways:

* Protecting the lives and wellness of our citizens;
* Keeping our hospitals from being overwhelmed;
* Maintaining economic activity and core government services until a vaccine or treatment becomes available.